Recent Articles

An academic turned corporate researcher, described as "the visionary" behind Google Glass, has jumped ship to arch-rival Amazon.

Dr Babak Parviz announced on his Google+ page on Saturday that he was moving to Amazon, and was "super excited." He later said he was looking forward to "working on a few other things" for the gigantic web marketplace.

It's a puzzling move given that he led the development of Google Glass, and also helped develop a glucose-monitoring contact lens. His alma mater, the University of Michigan, feted him as "the visionary" behind the tech.

Parviz's departure comes after Google spent months talking up the possibilities of wearable computers such as smartwatches – and less time talking about its Google Glass project. It also comes a few months after the advertising kingpin had to warn its Glass wearers to not act like "Glassholes".

"Having worked at companies ranging from tiny start-ups to huge corporations and universities in Europe and the US, I have found each one to be fun in its own unique way. I founded and led a few efforts at Google (among them, Google Glass and Google Contact Lenses are public so far :) prior to moving to Amazon and work on a few other things now..." Parviz wrote on his Google+ page.

"I dig making (really) small things, new computing and communication tools, high-tech with social impact, and biotech and usually hang out in the Silicon Valley or Seattle."

Amazon just launched a Fire phone, which came with a bevy of cameras including four tiny ones and LEDs that can track the position of the owner's head and tilt images in response – a tech Amazon calls Dynamic Perspective.

Given Parviz's experience and history, maybe he'll be bringing his own perspective on wearable eye-tech to Amazon? ®